new candidates
Challengers added for Nanaimo & Oceanside ridings in provincial election
NANAIMO - Opposition parties are continuing to confirm their candidates ahead of the 2026 provincial election.The opposition BC Conservatives have announced three candidates for ridings in Nanaimo, Parksville and Qualicum Beach, with each looking to unseat sitting NDP MLAs who swept to victory two years ago.In Nanaimo-...
5h ago
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find your candidate
NanaimoNewsNOW launches interactive 'Know Your Vote' tool ahead of local election
NANAIMO - NanaimoNewsNOW is looking to provide voters a little more clarity amid a crowded field of local candidates this month.Beginning Thursday, Oct. 1, voters in the City of Nanaimo can use our new, interactive Know Your Vote tool to see how their thoughts and opinions on various topics match with those of the cand...
9h ago
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lower fire danger
Backyard & industrial fire bans lifted by Coastal Fire Centre
NANAIMO - All remaining fire bans on Vancouver Island will be lifted as of noon on Wednesday, Sept. 30.The campfire ban was removed earlier this month, and the Coastal Fire Centre said category two and three open fires will now be permitted.Category two fires include burn piles not exceeding two metres in height and th...
Sep 30, 2026
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What's Trending
planning ahead
Nanaimo continues progress on plans to prepare for rising sea levels
2h ago
Program helping homeowners cut costs
Nanaimo Homeowners: Centra's $1M Window Efficiency Plan is now over 75% claimed
new candidates
Challengers added for Nanaimo & Oceanside ridings in provincial election
5h ago
find your candidate
NanaimoNewsNOW launches interactive 'Know Your Vote' tool ahead of local election
9h ago
Nanaimo, Parksville and Area
tough questions
Nanaimo Mayor and Council candidates grilled in open forum
NANAIMO - A capacity crowd filled the Vancouver Island Conference Centre to hear from nearly every candidate running for Nanaimo Mayor and Council next month. Hosted by the Nanaimo and District Chamber of Commerce, an all-candidates forum on Tuesday, Sept. 29, gave voters the opportunity to mingle with candidates in an...
Sep 30, 2026
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orange shirt day
Local events to honour National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
NANAIMO - Wednesday, Sep. 30 is the sixth annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, with events taking place across the mid-Island to commemorate the occasion. In Nanaimo, Deverill Square Park at 200 Irwin St. will host a free community event from 9:30 a.m. until 2 p.m., starting with a traditional blessing by ...
Sep 29, 2026
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2026 municipal election
Two-time Parksville city councillor hoping to be the next mayor
This article is part of a multi-week feature from NanaimoNewsNOW, profiling Mayoral candidates across the mid-Island ahead of the 2026 Municipal Election. For complete election coverage, click here.PARKSVILLE - Much like the trajectory of Parksville's outgoing mayor, a city councillor is looking to leap into the city's...
Sep 29, 2026
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tangible representation
'They belong here:' new welcome pole unveiled at Wellington Secondary
NANAIMO - A new welcome pole at a local high school is being viewed as a concrete message for staff and students: everyone is welcome here.Carved by Snuneymuxw First Nation artist Noel Brown, the yellow and red cedar artwork was officially unveiled on Tuesday, Sept. 29, during a whole-school ceremony outside the main e...
Sep 29, 2026
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high-risk incident
Impaired Qualicum Beach driver restrained by Good Samaritans
NANAIMO - A swerving car missing a wheel with sparks flying along Hwy. 19A drew the attention of several motorists and area residents. The southbound driver north of Qualicum Beach, described in court as highly intoxicated on the evening of May 24, 2026, was Mackenzie Nicholas Blanchard. He was a few hours away from ha...
Sep 29, 2026
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tour de rock
VIDEO: Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock rolls into Nanaimo
NANAIMO - Riders from the annual Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock made their way through Oceanside and Nanaimo, being celebrated and raising money to help find a cure for children's cancer. The group started their Monday, Sep. 28 ride at Aspengrove School in Lantzville, then headed south before arriving at the Nanaimo RCMP...
Sep 28, 2026
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British Columbia
Former chief coroner Lisa Lapointe to run for B.C. Greens in provincial vote
VICTORIA - The British Columbia Green Party has named former chief coroner Lisa Lapointe as the party's candidate in the riding of Saanich South on Vancouver Island. Leader Emily Lowan announced Lapointe's candidacy as the party unveiled its toxic drug...
30m ago
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Bank of Canada's key rate 'too blunt' to fix housing unaffordability: official
A top official at the Bank of Canada says monetary policymakers are struggling to find new tools and pathways to address persistent housing affordability challenges. Senior deputy governor Carolyn Rogers gave a speech in Victoria, B.C., on Thursday tha...
1h ago
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Police Watchdog investigating after man jumps from Metro Vancouver bridge
SURREY - British Columbia's police watchdog agency is investigating the actions of officers after a man jumped from a Metro Vancouver bridge and disappeared over the weekend. The Independent Investigations Office says in a release that it happened Satu...
2h ago
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Carney expresses confidence in producer demand for new West Coast oil pipeline
CALGARY - Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed confidence Thursday that oilsands producers will be keen to spend on expansion projects to fill the proposed Pacific Link pipeline, which has been deemed Canada's first project of national interest. "Thes...
2h ago
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Carney gives Alberta pipeline special interest designation, to be called Pacific Link
FORT MCMURRAY - A pipeline to haul Alberta oil to tankers on the B.C. coast took a big step forward Thursday. Prime Minster Mark Carney, with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith at his side, announced the line - to be known as Pacific Link - is the first pr...
2h ago
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A timeline for Pacific Link, the 'national interest' Alberta-B.C. pipeline plan
CALGARY - A new million-barrel-per-day oilsands pipeline to the West Coast is the first to be deemed a project of national interest - a key step if the proposal is to advance. Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced the ...
3h ago
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Local Sports
Championship Mentality
John Barsby's varsity football team brings a winning attitude to a new season
NANAIMO - The high school varsity football season has begun in the mid island with the John Barsby Bulldogs winning their season opener 55-34 against Abbotford. Barsby is in a AA/AAA hybrid division with Ballenas out of Parksville and Mt. Douglas and Spectrum schools from Victoria. Initially Nanaimo District Secondary ...
Sep 26, 2026
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Kicking It
VIU soccer teams hit the pitch for 2026 PACWEST season
NANAIMO - The VIU Mariners are beginning a new PACWEST soccer season with differing expectations.The women will attempt to win the provincial championship for a third straight time, while the men are hoping to rise up the table after finishing 2-7-3 in 2025.Women's coach Bobbie Taylor said her group will have a strong ...
Sep 12, 2026
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Scoring Big
Vancouver Island Seals provide elite development pathway for female hockey players
NANAIMO - The Vancouver Island Seals hockey program has been going since 2017 and it's the only female AAA hockey team on the island. General manager Cynthia Fowler said the team had been based out of the south island to start but now calls Port Alberni home. "Last year we moved the team to Port Alberni because of...
Sep 7, 2026
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ClippersNOW
Three Straight
Clippers solid in win over Eagles
NANAIMO - The Clippers ended September with consecutive victories over Cowichan Valley, Blackfalds and Surrey.On Sunday, Sept.27 Nanaimo won 4-1 over the Eagles in a game they led most of the way.Elliot Perreault opened the scoring on an early man advantage before Kole Keen tied the game for Surrey in the first minute ...
Sep 27, 2026
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First Period Outburst
Clippers use strong start to beat Blackfalds
NANAIMO - The Clippers built up a 3-0 lead in their first ever game against the Blackfalds Bulldogs but then had to hold on to earn a 4-2 victory.The first BCHL goal for Zack Carrier put Nanaimo up early in the first period before Indiana Grossbard and Charles Béland added tallies in the opening frame.Beland esp...
Sep 26, 2026
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New Faces
Clippers reforming blue line for new season
NANAIMO - The new BCHL season has begun for the Clippers with an almost entirely new defence corps.Hudson Gill is the lone veteran but only played seven games last year due to injury, and Nate Barclay was an affiliate player with the Clippers a year ago.Noah Caswell, Will St. James, Murray Kanerva, Pherson Loehndorf, C...
Sep 23, 2026
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Canada
Supreme Court to examine jurisdictional question in alleged cryptocurrency fraud case
OTTAWA - The Supreme Court of Canada will look into whether an Ontario court had jurisdiction to impose a statutory freeze on cryptocurrency in an alleged fraud case. Three Nigerian citizens are accused of defrauding a person in Canada of about $65,000...
1h ago
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QuickQuotes: Reaction to the Pacific Link pipeline project
OTTAWA - Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Thursday that the Pacific Link pipeline project is the first to be designated a project in the national interest under the Building Canada Act. The designation allows the federal government to streamline th...
2h ago
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Health ministers say Ottawa needs to renew mental health, home care funding
OTTAWA - Health ministers from across the country say they're worried about "profound and negative" effects on patients and health-care jobs if federal funding agreements for mental health, addictions and home care are not renewed in this year's budget...
3h ago
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A timeline for Pacific Link, the 'national interest' Alberta-B.C. pipeline plan
CALGARY - A new million-barrel-per-day oilsands pipeline to the West Coast is the first to be deemed a project of national interest - a key step if the proposal is to advance. Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced the ...
3h ago
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Indigenous groups given just two months to consult on pipeline project designation
OTTAWA - Indigenous communities along the route for the newly announced West Coast oil pipeline were given just two months for consultations on whether the pipeline should be designated a project of national interest - and that was still more than the ...
4h ago
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How has medical understanding of 'shaken baby syndrome' evolved?
TORONTO - An Ontario mother's acquittal in the death of her infant son is the latest display of medical evidence of shaken baby syndrome discredited in the courtroom. Jennifer Gaskin had been convicted of manslaughter in the death of her 2 1/2-month-ol...
4h ago
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World
Hurricane Rachel strengthens to a Category 3 storm off Mexico's Pacific coast
MEXICO CITY (AP) - Hurricane Rachel has been upgraded to a Category 3 storm off Mexico's Pacific coast, according to the National Hurricane Center, as northern Mexico and parts of the U.S. Southwest were reeling from flooding and damage from the remnan...
38m ago
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Judge denies defense motion asking Lindsay Clancy be found not guilty due to a lack of evidence
BOSTON (AP) - The judge in the Lindsay Clancy murder case on Thursday refused to declare her not guilty, turning down a defense motion that had argued there wasn't enough evidence to prove she was responsible for killing her three children. ...
1h ago
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New ICE guidance bans high-speed car chases and sets tighter rules for traffic stops, a memo shows
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have been ordered not to engage in high-speed car chases and to make vehicle stops only if they have completed specific training, under new internal guidance issued after several drivers were shot in en...
3h ago
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Sponsored Content
Program helping homeowners cut costs
Nanaimo Homeowners: Centra's $1M Window Efficiency Plan is now over 75% claimed
The Centra Install Pros Window Efficiency Plan - a program helping Nanaimo homeowners cut the cost of new windows and doors - is running out of runway fast. The plan puts up to $650 toward each window or door replaced, drawn from a dedicated $1 million fund set aside for local homeowners. There is no income testing and...
Sep 18, 2026
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sponsored content
Resort-Style Retirement Living in Nanaimo's Old City Quarter
For many retirees, and those nearing retirement, staying in their home can be difficult. The time spent on day-to-day maintenance, plus dealing with bigger repairs usually required on an older home, can cut into time they'd rather spend enjoying their retirement. And if they're traveling, they don't want to worry about...
Jul 28, 2026
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sponsored content
Customizable Management for Smaller Strata Communities
Most people who volunteer for their strata council don't sign up to be an accountant. But for many in smaller strata communities, with less than 50 units, that's exactly what they end up doing. They spend time researching bylaws, getting quotes for maintenance, and worrying that something important has been missed. The...
Jun 9, 2026
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